He was recorded in the 1880 census as mulatto, in the 1900 census as white, in the 1910 census as Indian (Native American), in the 1920 census as B and W overwritten (cannot tell which is the original and which is the replacement), and in 1930 and 1940 as white.

Her death certificate records Melvina Cole, age 38 years 11 months 10 days, born 14 Oct 1879 in Kentucky, died 24 Sep 1918 in Marion township, Hardin Co., Ohio, married, father Jess Cole, mother’s maiden name Jane Collins, both born in Ky, cause of death typhoid fever, informant W. K. Cole, Alger, Ohio, burial in Riceville, Ky.

The year of birth is off by one; she was recorded as born Oct 1880 in the 1900 census, and she does not appear with the Jesse Cole family in the 1880 census.

Ordinarily I would not research the ancestry of the parents-in-law of a distant cousin, but when a wife’s maiden name is the same as her husband’s surname, I am always curious to find out how (or if) they are related to each other. In this case, they were second cousins, that is, their grandfathers were brothers.